Gantry crane building challenging but rewarding

Notre Dame College School’s team B won third place in the PEO design and build competition. From left to right: Dena Atallah, Jackson Root, Seungjae Lee and Ehrin Turkovich.

Notre Dame’s two teams come away with awards

Students from the Niagara Catholic District School Board competed in a unique project Saturday at Niagara College testing their design and engineering skills.

In the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), Niagara Chapter, second annual design and build competition for secondary school students, competitors were given just four hours to build a gantry crane which was to be made out of 250 popsicle sticks, a DC electrical motor, gear box, string. The entries were judged based on a combination of lifting capacity and weight of the bridge.

The competition involved grade 11 and 12 students from Notre Dame College School, Denis Morris, St. Michael and St. Paul Catholic High Schools.

The team from Denis Morris Catholic High School took first place, second place went to St. Michaels team B, and third place went to Notre Dame College School’s team B.

“It was a great and unique experience,” said Dena Atallah of Notre Dame’s team B after receiving their third place award. “It was fun to work closely with my teammates and create something unexpected.”

“It was a great collaborating enterprise,” teammate Jackson Root said. “I think that our team really came together to make a great structure.”

“It was very fine, I really liked it. It was a great experience,” team member Seungjae Lee said. “I’m glad we did as well as we did.”

“It made us really proud,” team member Ehrin Turkovich said. “It brought us closer together.”

“We are in grade 11, so, we are hoping to come back next year,” she said.

“And take first place,” they all said.

“I love that idea,” Micki Staples, Math teacher Notre Dame College School Welland said about the kids wanting to come back next year and take first place. “They are a great bunch of kids, hardworking, put a lot of work into their design and did a fantastic job today.”

Notre Dame’s team A won the innovation award.

The competitors from Notre Dame are part of their Mathletes Team.

Notre Dame’s team A won the innovation award for their crane. From left to right: Rim El Osta, Ben Otto, Anastasia Groch, Adam Maunsell.